Police: Man used Bethlehem Township hotel room to make meth

Girlfriend of Sonny Decastro turned him in

A 31-year-old man using his Bethlehem Township hotel room to make methamphetamine was turned in to state narcotics agents by his girlfriend over the weekend, according to court records.

Sonny Edwardo Decastro, no known address, was arrested Saturday in Room 4 of the Comfort Inn at 3191 Highfield Drive.

Investigators said Decastro had stuffed towels along the bottom of the bathroom door to block fumes and had removed the smoke detector in the room.

Decastro had about 3 grams of meth in the room and equipment for making and using the drug, including plastic bottles, chemicals and several syringes, according to court records.

Investigators were alerted to Decastro's activities by his girlfriend, Karli Kaufmann, no age or address given. She told police Decastro would cook meth about every other day, both to use and sell.

Decastro is in Northampton County Prison under $100,000 bail on charges of manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of meth, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession of chemicals to manufacture meth.

Comfort Inn manager Mary Motley said state police are continuing to dispose of the chemicals and clean the room where the meth lab was discovered.

Kaufmann told police she and Decastro rented the room Friday and that evening, Decastro used the room to make meth.

She said the batch made about 5 grams and when she left the next day, there were a few grams left. She told investigators what type of chemicals and equipment were inside and gave agents a room key.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, portable meth labs have been found in a variety of locations including hotel rooms, rented storage facilities and moving trucks.

In 2008 -- the most recent figures available -- the DEA discovered 13 clandestine laboratories or properties where meth-making chemicals were dumped in Pennsylvania.